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MP event told of ‘defining moment’ for nuclear
04 February 2025 GlobalAn advanced fuels facility being built in the UK is a “defining moment” for the industry, Nuclear Week in Parliament (NWIP) 2025 heard at its welcome reception.
On Monday, January 27 Chief Commercial Officer for Urenco, Laurent Odeh, emphasised the importance of supporting new nuclear, like small and advanced modular reactors.
He said that the UK Government’s co-investment with Urenco, which means a high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) plant will be built at Capenhurst by the early 2030s, was “more than a win” – it was a defining moment, and the beginning of a trend where support for new nuclear is now materialising into demand.
HALEU fuel will be needed to power many of these smaller, smarter reactors of the future, which are currently in development.
Laurent was speaking at NWIP’s Nuclear Energy All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Welcome Reception.
On the same day, Urenco co-hosted a fringe event in Parliament with Matthew Patrick MP, one of Capenhurst’s local constituency MPs, for parliamentarians to learn more about Urenco and the nuclear fuel cycle.
And Head of Government Affairs for Urenco, Emilie Isaacs, took part in a Bechtel panel event where she emphasised the importance of collaboration in nuclear.
Urenco was a Platinum sponsor of the overall event, and had a presence throughout the three days.
On the Tuesday, a group of six Urenco graduate engineers, apprentices and interns attended the Skills and Apprenticeship Fair, where they met and spoke to MPs and Peers about their experiences in nuclear. This included Samantha Dixon MP for Chester North and Neston, whose constituency includes our UK enrichment site in Capenhurst, and new Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) chair Lord McNicol.
Urenco also attended the Great British Nuclear Reception on Wednesday, January 29, in the House of Lords.
Organised by the NIA, NWIP’s purpose is to promote the opportunities that nuclear energy presents within Parliament and to bring together key stakeholders and decision-makers to hold productive conversations.
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